"Well, you could come with me to the armory to get your weapon. I asked them to have the swords of the investigative team ready to be withdrawn when i went down to take mine. Jade is a bit more difficult, but I know a lazy Yasuki bastard who owes me a favor or two."

Then, as he considered Zatoichi's words, Nadare mused, "I'm no shugenja, but I just realised something. Sagaki's been telling me about how shugenja cast spells by asking the kami to grant them power. To me, that sounds like witnesses. Perhaps you could ask them, Sagaki? I only know how to pray to Bishamon when i need to kill something."

ooc: Magical evidence isn't accepted in any court. but it can jumpstart an investigation, commune is the spell you want Thaum.

OOC: Thanks :)

IC:
Sagaki nodded. "A good idea - I'll do that immediately, and then go question Kuni Taira."

Sagaki sat down on the floor, and prepared to commune with the kami. He considered for a moment which he should try to contact. He could contact a water spirit, and ask to see what had happened... but did he truly want that? To see the act itself. Sitting there, so near to the bodies, he didn't feel like watching the act itself. Instead he settled on an earth spirit. He concentrated, attempting to commune with the nearest earth spirit - which shouldn't be too far, with the mountains all about, and the fortress and wall all made of stone. In his mind he held the question that he would ask: Did Shigeru, or anyone working for him, commit murder in this room?

The kami didn't answer. They were silenced no kami in the room would answer any questions.

Sagaki stood up, looking worried. "The kami in the room won't answer... I believe that they've been silenced, which is not a good thing at all... It suggests a powerful magic-user."

He looked thoughtfully towards the door that lead to the entrance hall. "I wonder... perhaps the killer didn't think to silence the kami in there..."

With that Sagaki made for the door, entering the entrance room. It's emptiness seemded different now - no longer immaculate, but rather empty, hollow, lifeless. He sat down uneasily, calmed himself, and once again attempted to contact the kami, trying the spirit in the air around him this time...

A scared whisper came from the kami. "We are here." they replied to his summon. the voices sounded cheerful to be called by him.

Sagaki let out a sigh of relief, a breath that he hadn't know he had been holding. And that they were scared... he was compassionate enough that he felt sorry for them, but it suggested that they had seen something. He thought for a moment, making sure that he had the right question, then asked: "Good kami, I wish to ask a favour of you. A terrible and foul deed has been commited in the room that this one leads to, and I respectfully ask for your help in this matter. We think that a certain man, Yogo Shigeru, may be responsible - can you please tell me whether it was he that entered this room before me and my companions, or, if not, who it was?"

Again Sagaki held his breath, wondering what the kami would answer.

"No it was a beuatiful girl, she had hair like obsidian, deep eyes, soft pale skin. Very pretty for a murderer, Her hands covered in blood. She wore robes of orange, flowing robes. She terrified us greatly, she is so powerful."

Sagaki was surprised. Who could this be? "Thank you, kind kami. My companions and I should find her, if we can - can you please tell me if there were any distinguishing marks on the robes? Did anything stand out about them, or anything else about her? Anything that you can tell us would be greatly appreciated, great kami..."

"The mark of Isawa"